The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with rookie receiver/returner Montrell Washington, Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post first reported Thursday. Washington will earn $4,029,872 over the next four years, according to OverTheCap.com, an average of $1,007,468 per season.
Washington was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the NFL draft out of Samford in April. He’s a receiver by trade but Washington will likely serve primarily as a return specialist in Denver, similar to the role Diontae Spencer previously held with the Broncos.
Washington totaled 60 receptions for 813 yards and nine touchdowns last year with the Bulldogs. Those were fine numbers, but what caught Denver’s eye was Washington’s 985 return yards (742 on kickoffs and 243 on punts) and three returns for touchdowns in 2021.
Washington seems extremely likely to become the Broncos’ new designated returner for both kickoffs and punts, but they won’t hand him the job. Washington will have to compete this summer, with KJ Hamler and Kendall Hinton presumably among his competition for return duties.
